As part of the delegation of Eat Travel Write Selangor 2.0 where we were on a quest to discover the hidden gems of Hulu Langat, I had the opportunity to spend a night at Orchard Santika Homestay.

2. the green garden of Orchard Santika Homestay

3. a traditional house

If you have been following my blog, you would know that I definitely prefer hotel stay, rather than budget or homestay.

4. playing sepak raga

5. angklung performance

Nevertheless, I was open to try new offers and am glad to say that Orchard Santika Homestay is one of the better homestays that I have experienced.

6. Kompang presentation by award-winning troupe, AJAS

7. mock wedding

Coincidentally, when I was there, Orchard Santika Homestay Hulu Langat was the venue for the Selangor Mini Craft Carnival (Mini Kraf Karnival Selangor) 2015, so there were plenty of chances for me to get hands-on in various traditional crafts.

8. frying tumpi

9. cooking dodol

I’m quite embarrassed to admit that this was where I finally figured out how angklung, the traditional musical instrument, works. Oh-oh, I didn’t figure out, I was taught. LOL

10. making the green jelly for cendol

11. rubber-tapping demonstration

We also witnessed the “cukur jambul” ceremony, an important rite of passage for a Muslim baby, usually held at the end of the new mother’s period of abstinence (pantang).

12. visitors learn how to play angklung

13. Cukur Jambul ceremony

This was also where I had my second Nasi Ambeng. I remember the first time I tasted this speciality was in Terengganu. This time around, it was of a different variety, Javanese-style.

14. a demonstration on how nasi ambeng is shared

15….and wrapped

Nasi Ambeng is a huge rice-dish with four portions of food. It is eaten together to promote unity among family members (or friends). I find it to be a really meaningful custom, unless someone takes double share.

I’m not a fan of homestays either but I think there might be some new ones which are well maintained. Interesting activities they had there and yummy food. I’ve not tried any of them except the cendol green jelly!